Enhanced welded pipe, threaded connections, and methods for achieving the same

Abstract

A tubular member includes a tube body, a tube end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a nominal wall thickness, a longitudinal axis, a welded seam, and a patch of material. The welded seam forms an arcuate portion of the interior surface, and the patch covers a portion of the interior surface that includes a portion of the welded seam, extending from the tube end to an axially spaced first location. The resulting interior surface from the tube end to the axially spaced first location has a uniform inside diameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tubular member comprising:
 a tube body having a central axis, a tube end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a nominal wall thickness, a longitudinal axis, a welded seam; and a patch of material; 
 wherein the welded seam forms an arcuate portion of the interior surface; 
 wherein the patch covers a portion of the interior surface that includes a portion of the welded seam, and wherein the patch extends from the tube end to an axially spaced first location; 
 wherein the resulting interior surface from the tube end to the axially spaced first location has a uniform inside diameter; and 
 wherein the patch is contained in an arcuate segment of less than an entire circumference of the tubular member. 
 
     
     
       2. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the exterior surface of the tubular member includes threads adjacent the tube end. 
     
     
       3. The tubular member of  claim 2  wherein exterior surface further includes a non-threaded seal surface disposed between the tube end and the threads;
 wherein the patch is axially aligned with the seal surface and at least a portion of the threads; and 
 wherein the patch extends beyond the seal surface and extends at least 2 inches and at most 18 inches from the tubing end. 
 
     
     
       4. The tubular member of  claim 2  wherein the exterior surface is cylindrical relative to the axis, and the threads are cylindrical wedge threads. 
     
     
       5. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the arcuate segment has an arc length of 45 degrees of less. 
     
     
       6. The tubular member of  claim 5  wherein the welded seam has two longitudinally extending sides; and wherein the patch extends circumferentially beyond each side of the welded seam by a distance of at least 1.5% and less than 5% of the circumference of the tubular member. 
     
     
       7. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the inner surface has a non-uniform inside diameter, and this non-uniform portion is adjacent the welded seam and is axially spaced from the first tube end and is disposed beyond the first location. 
     
     
       8. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the yield strength of the material of the patch exceeds the yield strength of the tubular member by at least 6%. 
     
     
       9. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the yield strength of the material of the patch is substantially equal to the yield strength of the tubular member. 
     
     
       10. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the welded seam extends as a spiral along the length of the tubular member from the tube end to an opposite end of the tubular member. 
     
     
       11. The tubular member of  claim 1  wherein the modulus of elasticity of the material of the patch is within 20% of the modulus of elasticity of the tube body. 
     
     
       12. The tubular member of  claim 1 , wherein the patch covers the arcuate segment. 
     
     
       13. The tubular member of  claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced ends, and a radial thickness, and wherein the radial thickness tapers at the circumferentially spaced ends. 
     
     
       14. The tubular member of  claim 13 , wherein an inner surface of the patch is flush with the interior surface of the tubular member at the circumferentially spaced ends. 
     
     
       15. A tubular member comprising:
 a central axis, a tube end, an exterior surface, an interior surface, a nominal wall thickness, a longitudinal axis, a welded seam, a patch of weld material; and a weld enhancement end location axially spaced from the tube end; 
 wherein the welded seam forms an arcuate portion of the interior surface; wherein the patch covers a portion of the interior surface that includes a portion of the welded seam, and wherein the patch extends axially from the weld enhancement end location toward the tube end; 
 wherein the portion of the interior surface covered by the patch has a uniform inside diameter; and 
 wherein the patch comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced ends and a radial thickness and wherein the radial thickness tapers at the circumferentially spaced ends. 
 
     
     
       16. The tubular member of  claim 15  wherein the exterior surface includes threads adjacent the tube end and extending axially along a portion of the patch. 
     
     
       17. The tubular member of  claim 15  wherein the interior surface includes threads adjacent the tube end;
 wherein the weld enhancement end location is axially spaced apart from the threads; and 
 wherein the patch extends axially from the weld enhancement end location to a second location adjacent the threads. 
 
     
     
       18. The tubular member of  claim 15 , wherein the patch covers an arcuate segment of less than an entire circumference of the tubular member along the interior surface at the location of the arcuate patch. 
     
     
       19. The tubular member of  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface of the patch is flush with the interior surface of the tubular member at the circumferentially spaced ends.